Take the Quiz: Will Your Boss Say ‘Yes’ to Your Flexible Work Request?

After 20+ years helping thousands of professionals, I’ve seen an approval profile that consistently gets management approval. If you score well on the criteria below, your request for flexible work will likely get approved. Check your score: take the quiz now.

Your Approval Profile Gauge + Recommendations

A verbal request by a short-term employee is a recipe for denial. Recommendation: Take more time to build job tenure and performance, then add a solid plan and proposal in writing.

6 to 7 points: FAIR

In which areas can you add 1 or 2 more points? Recommendation: Consider delaying your request until you reach the next level. Meanwhile, review more strategies for success.

8 to 9 points: GOOD

You’re good to go. This is a decent starting position for making your request now. Recommendation: Your detailed proposalwill tip the scales in your favor.

10-plus: EXCELLENT

Your job tenure and performance make you well-positioned to ask. Recommendation:Move ahead; prepare your proposaltoday and present it soon.

“I’m so nervous; I don’t think my boss will go for this.”

Being nervous or hesitant is actually part of the process of making the request. Accept it as normal and don’t let it stop you from asking for what you want. Asking is the only way you’ll get it. Besides, a professionally-written proposalbuilds confidence.

How to Change the Mind of a Tough-Sell Manager

Even if yours is a tough case, don’t second-guess what your manager will do or say; no one can predict that with certainty. Many of my customers were doubtful about getting a ‘Yes’ until they used my Flexible Work Proposal Packageand saw their manager change their mind.

The Brick-Wall Manager

“I’ve tried to convince management that I could make a limited hour schedule work before and I’ve always been turned down. This time, my flawless proposal got through the brick wall!”

The Manager Who Says It Won’t Work

“…[when] I requested a compressed workweek, I was told no and that it wouldn’t work. [Then] I came across your proposal blueprint. I was somewhat skeptical [but] decided it was worth the risk. I emailed it to my boss yesterday morning. By 3pm, she called me to tell me I have her approval to work 4 days per week when I return from maternity leave. I want people to know that it’s well worth the [price]. Thank you.”

Angie McDonald (got approval of a compressed workweek)
Wichita, KS

The Manager Who Wouldn’t Even Consider It

“I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! My professional proposal sealed the deal; honestly, my boss said she would not have even considered it had I not put together such a wonderful presentation. Thank you.”

“I can’t do without you in the office.”

“The day after I briefly mentioned my [4-day work week] plans, my boss told me that it was unlikely that he would ‘do without’ me one day a week. However, following the review of my proposal, he completely changed his story…”

The Cold-Chill Manager

“When I first approached my manager about working from home [after maternity leave], she gave me a very chilly response. Then I found your website and purchased your telecommuting proposal template. Last week I had lunch with my boss to review the proposal, and she did a complete 180! …Thank you!”

The Manager Full of Questions and Concerns

“I wanted to telecommute full-time in my current job because I was moving to Atlanta from San Francisco…using [your Proposal Package], I was well-prepared with a strategy and ready answers to my boss’s questions and concerns.”

Brad Palmer (got approval to telecommute)
Atlanta, GA

The Manager Taken Back by the Idea

“While my boss was pretty taken back with the thought of my going part-time, he did comment that I seemed to have really put a lot of thought into my decision and thought the proposal covered all the bases…”